1940 Ford Panel - Delivery Dancin' In The Desert's Dusk

Due to their relative scarcity and brawny styling, panel deliveries seem to pick up a fair share of attention at vintage custom truck shows. The ratio of show pickups to panels must be 10:1. When we run across one that's exceptionally well done, we take notice.

A year ago, we spotted Ron Segal's '40 Ford panel delivery at the Goodguys West Coast Nationals in Pleasanton, California. Despite the fact that his hauler won the Cool Commercial prize, it wasn't quite finished. We recently scheduled a shoot for another of Ron's vehicles and found out he was in the process of selling his freshly completed Ford.

We decided to take a gander at that delivery the next day, while picking up another Segal hot rod hauler to be photo'd at the Primedia studio. Needless to say, we were smitten. You can see where this is going. We raced the sunset and snapped an abundance of photographs while we enjoyed what photographers refer to as magic light. Magic light-that time of twilight in morn or night where deeply saturated colors and the horizon meld into what CCT's Editor describes as "visual ecstasy"-the best for creating appealing images. In concert with the setting sun, the desert landscape aided our effort in capturing one of Ford's finely styled trucks.

It started at RC Classics, in Palm Desert, California, where several craftsmen collaborated to create the '40. RC's owner, R.C. Lindly, boxed the original frame its entire length, before adding a '78 Camaro front clip and a 4.11:1-geared '78 Camaro differential. Augmented by drilled, polished stainless disc-brake rotor covers and fed through stainless steel brake lines, the Camaro's disc brakes were utilized, front and rear. R.C. fabricated a 12-gallon stainless steel fuel tank, which he located between the rear framerails behind the rearend and plumbed with stainless fuel lines.

Wayne's Engineering in Riverside built a 383ci Chevy stroker engine for installation in the completed chassis. Ported heads, an Edelbrock four-barrel carb and Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake manifold, and a Pete Jackson gear drive made the powerplant plenty stout. Backed by a Hayden trans-cooler- enhanced TH350, the trans was also optimized with a B&M shift improvement kit and a 2,000-stall converter.

The owner next towed the delivery to Sledsville Hot Rods & Kustoms in Riverside, California, for the extensive bodywork. Sledsville chopped the top, shaved the door handles, leaded the fenders, and prepped all the exterior panels for paint. Their work complete, Stan Howton, owner of Howton's Signs & Lines in nearby Beaumont, beautified the hauler with several coats of House of Kolors Tangerine, before clearing the topcoats.

Being a retired rodeo cowboy and lifelong horseman and rancher, Ron wanted the interior to have a western theme. He entrusted Eddie Ledesma, owner of American Auto Upholstery in Corona, with trimming the cabin in cream leather and tan suede, replete with custom-stitched longhorn steers. Like all the saddles he has used, two colors of thread were employed throughout the custom stitchwork. Once Eddie was done, Ron delivered the '40 back to RC Classics for fitment of the Vintage Air and stereo system, thus bringing the truck's construction to completion.

We've known Ron Segal for years now. He has been involved in the vintage automotive hobby for 40 years, and has owned many sweet custom vintage trucks and street rods. He never seems able to hang on to them for too long. In that regard, perhaps his habit of buying, building, collecting, and selling are akin to the cowboys of yore, who moved from ranch to ranch for the next big cattle drive or ill-tempered bronc' to bust. After riding in the same saddle for a while, Ron has to get a different one to make his own. The '40's current caretakers are Ron's good friends, Charlie and Kathy Knoedler. They're the beneficiaries of Ron's restless nature to create and ride something new/old. When you see Ron's current steed, we're guessing you'll be equally impressed. Stay tuned.